**Russian Military Equipment Disappears from Syrian Port**
Satellite images have revealed that a large amount of Russian military equipment vanished from the Syrian port of Tartus after the departure of the cargo ship Sparta II. The news was shared by investigative journalist Mark Krutov from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
According to Krutov, the cargo ship Sparta II had been idling off the coast for weeks before being granted permission to dock in the port. However, the other Russian cargo ship, Sparta, remained docked in the port after its departure.
**Unclear Fate of Russian Military Assets**
The news sheds light on the state of Russian military assets in Syria, whose ultimate fate remains unclear. A rebel offensive overthrew Moscow-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and Russia has been withdrawing its military and naval assets from the country.
**Investment Canceled**
Russia’s Stroytransgaz had committed to investing over $500 million in the modernization of the Tartus port in 2019. However, this agreement was recently canceled by Syria.
**Equipment Leaving by Air or Sea**
Russian soldiers and materiel have been leaving the country mainly by planes from the Khmeimim airport. Only equipment that is impossible or expensive to lift by air has been transported by sea. This means that despite the challenges in maritime transport, most of the Russian military equipment is being evacuated via airlift.
**Multiple Warships in the Port**
The BBC reported that there were probably two more Russian warships in the port, the Ivan Gren and the Aleksandr Otrakovsky. Ukraine’s military intelligence also supported this assessment.
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